📷 Photo by Dee Dee Thompson on UnsplashHudson Valley
Giant sculptures at Storm King, art in Beacon and Roosevelt’s home at Hyde Park.
- Distance
- approx. 264 km (164 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 56 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 5
- States
- NY
- Best time to go
- May–June and September
- Tolls and vignettes
- ≈ $3
- Updated
- June 28, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 264 km (164 mi) with 5 stops, from New York to Albany. About 2 h 56 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September. Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $3 (NY).
More road trips in New York · More road trips from New York
Photos along the route
Route description
Leave New York City northward on the west side of the Hudson, following US-9W past the Palisades and over the hills of Bear Mountain. At New Windsor, the Storm King Art Center spreads giant sculptures across 500 acres of fields and wooded hills. Allow several hours, and book tickets ahead on busy weekends.
Cross the Newburgh–Beacon Bridge to Beacon, a former factory town whose main street is now full of galleries and cafés. Dia Beacon exhibits large works of contemporary art in a former printing plant by the river. From Beacon, US-9 runs north along the east bank of the Hudson.
At Hyde Park, you can visit Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home and presidential library, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill cottage and the Vanderbilt Mansion above the river. Continue north through Rhinebeck and Hudson to Albany, the state capital, with its ornate State Capitol and the modernist Empire State Plaza.
The Hudson Valley is at its best in October, when the fall color draws crowds on weekends. Several parkways in the region, including the Taconic, are closed to commercial vehicles and have low bridges, so check your route in a large motorhome. A toll is charged on the Newburgh–Beacon Bridge in the eastbound direction.
Which stops are on Hudson Valley?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
New York
NY - 295 km
Storm King Art Center
OdditiesNew Windsor, NYGiant outdoor sculptures spread over 500 acres of fields and hills in the Hudson Valley.
- 314 km
Beacon
NY - 438 km
Hyde Park
NY - 5117 km
Albany
NY
How do you drive Hudson Valley in 2 days?
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: New York → Hyde Park · 91 mi · 1 h 38 minOn the way: Storm King Art Center, Beacon.Overnight nearby, for example: Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground (13 mi); Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park Campground (4 mi).
- Day 2: Hyde Park → Albany · 73 mi · 1 h 18 minOvernight nearby, for example: Schodack Island State Park Campground (10 mi); Lean-Tos (12 mi).
When is the best time for Hudson Valley?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
Scout adapts this route to your vehicle, your days and your budget.
FAQs
How long is Hudson Valley?
2-day road trip of about 264 km (164 mi) with 5 stops, from New York to Albany. About 2 h 56 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Hudson Valley?
We suggest 2 days: about 2 h 56 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Hudson Valley start and end?
It starts in New York and ends in Albany.
Which states does Hudson Valley pass through?
New York.
Where can you camp along Hudson Valley?
OpenStreetMap lists 38 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Liberty Harbor RV, Schodack Island State Park Campground and Camp Gateway - Staten Island.
How much are the tolls on Hudson Valley?
Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $3 (NY). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.
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